Process of preventing surface oxidation of resistance-conductors.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. H. DEMPSTER, 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF PREVENTING SURFACE OXIDATION OF RESISTANCE-CONDUCTORS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. H. DEMP- srnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Preventing Surface Oxidation of Resistance-Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for preventing surface oxidation of resistance conductoru to be used in electric heaters and the like and has for its object the provision of means whereby the oxid is prevented from forming when the conductor is heated.

In the construction of electric heaters and the like, high resistance conductors are frequently used, containing metal which forms an oxid on the conductor. This oxid has been found in some cases to attack the mica or other insulating material with which it is in contact when the conductor reaches a high temperature. This is particularly true of certain resistance conductors containing iron, as for instance an alloy of iron, nickel and chormium. A resistance conductor of this composition, when heated, forms an oxid or scale which has been found to combine with mica to form a low melting point mixture.

One of the objects of my invention, therefore, is to prevent formation of this oxid.

In carrymg out my invention, I interpose between the resistance conductor and the mica a layer or film of easily oxidizable material which combines with the oxygen instead. of combining with the metal. This process is adapted for use in cases where the res1stance conductor is to be sealed in, as for instance where the conductor, in contact with mica, is cast into a body of metal. In this case it is found that a small amount of oxygen 15 always retained by the mica or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 20, 1909. Serial No. 484,773.

Patented May 10, 19MB.

around the conductor. By placing an oxidizable substance next to the mica, this oxygen combines with the substance and prevents surface oxidation.

The particular material which I have found to serve the-purpose is carbon, in the form of paraflin or lampblack, which is suspended in some volatile liquid, as for instance, turpentine or gasolene. The lampblack may be mixed to form a paint, which may be laid on the mica next to the conductor, so that when the conductor is heated by passing current through it, or during the casting-in process, the carbon will combine with the oxygen and form carbon dioxid, and the surface oxidation of the conductor be prevented While I have described my invention as employing a specific material and as operating in a definite manner in accordance with the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit In invention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

' 1. The process of treating resistance conductors to prevent initial oxidation, which consists in applying thereto a readily 0x1- dizable substance.

2. The process of treating resistance conductors to prevent initial oxidation, which consists in applying thereto a coating of carbon.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of March, 1909.

\ JOHN T. H. DEMPSTER.

Witnesses:

HELEN Onrono, MARGARET E. WOOLLEY. 

